DISABILITY grant applicants whose applications were rejected by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) are advised to appeal the disapproved results.
This comes after Sassa received dozens of complaints from devastated applicants.
Worried Thabo Mathobela (32) of Ireagh near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, said he can't walk properly after falling from the house roof and is now wheelchair-bound.
"But the doctor rejected my disability grant application after assessment," he said.
"I can't lift heavy objects or stand for long after my legs had multiple fractures."
Mpumalanga Sassa spokesman Senzeni Ngubeni said: "We would like to encourage disability grant applicants to lodge an appeal when they're not satisfied with the disapproved results. The appeal must be lodged within 30 days after receiving the rejection letter, and the process of receiving the appeal also takes 30 days. If the applicant does not understand the rejection reasons. They have a right to ask Sassa officials to provide clarity."
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He said all approved disability grant beneficiaries received an increased R2090 monthly payment in October due to a budget review.
Ngubeni said applicants must note Sassa works together with the professional medical contracted doctors who ensure that qualifying applicants get disability grants.
"Sassa medical contracted doctors work under the supervision of approved regulations and guidelines by Sassa and the Department of Health. It's only a Sassa medical doctor that conducts the assessments and submits a report to Sassa, which determines whether the applicant qualifies for a temporary or permanent disability grant," he said.
Ngubeni said the assessment report is used on information presented to the doctor, and a physical assessment is conducted.
